I’m very ashamed, come on, wag your tail! You’re trembling… because of me? I didn’t want to… Where’s our leash? Let’s go, I’ll take you for a walk!
Versachka – Really?!
Victoria – I promise to do better…
Versachka and Victoria go outside. In the window, a silhouette of Victoria’s husband and Tesya approaching from a distance is visible. Before entering the house, Victoria’s husband suspiciously peeks into the window.
Victoria’s Husband – Tesya, you know what to do: warm clothes in one, shoes in the other!
Victoria’s Husband clumsily moves around the room.
Tesya – Dad, did you lose something?
Victoria’s Husband – No, no! Never mind!
Tesya – Can I help?
Victoria’s Husband – No need! Mind your own business!
Victoria enters with Versachka.
Victoria (to Victoria’s Husband) – Peace?
Victoria’s Husband – That hair you found on my clothes…
Victoria – Which one?
Victoria’s Husband – The ominous one…
Victoria – I already forgot! I scold myself for my suspicions! Are we children?
Victoria’s Husband – Well… peace!
Victoria’s Husband and Victoria hug.
Versachka – Maybe I had a prophetic dream last night?
Victoria (lightly hopping on one foot) – This needs to be celebrated urgently!
Victoria’s Husband – But what am I… Go, go.
Joyful, Victoria skips away.
Victoria’s Husband sighs heavily and leaves for the adjacent room.
Tesya (hugging the dog) – Versachka, you’re a good boy!
Versachka – You know, it seems I had a real prophetic dream! You were there, they were there, your big drawn tree, and everyone was smiling!
Tesya (laughs) – Woof! Woof!
Versachka – Seriously! Seriously!
Meanwhile, outside the windows, guards march in a steady, precise step.
Town Crier – Due to deteriorating weather conditions, our gracious king has decreed that tomorrow shall be a day off! That’s the first announcement. Second: the king’s ministers have reported on the six-month results! Poverty has been eradicated in the kingdom! Thanks to smart reforms, there are no more poor in the country! The kingdom’s defense has been strengthened! In the past month alone, a large number of men have joined the ranks of the honorable guard, and most of them are currently digging the great trench around our kingdom! A trench that will certainly ensnare the enemy! All of this is happening while the tentacles of neighboring kingdoms attempt to infiltrate our territory, taking away everything we’ve worked hard to create! In light of these achievements, the king has decreed a ministerial ball! Hail the king! Hail his faithful ministers!
Evening falls, and lanterns are lit.
The second evening…
Victoria’s husband is lighting the home fireplace. A heavy snowfall begins, turning into a blizzard. Tesya is drawing something, and Versachka sits nearby.
Versachka – Is that a person?
Tesya – Woof! Woof!
Versachka – It’s good that we understand each other…
In the distance, outside the window, the silhouette of a person appears. They peer into the windows, getting closer and closer. There’s a knocking at the window.
Versachka – Who’s that?
Tesya – Don’t worry, my dear, it’s probably the wind that blew a twig against our window!
Victoria’s Husband (peering out) – Did you knock?
Tesya – No, Daddy!
Victoria’s Husband – Curse this blizzard! *Knocking at the window.*
Versachka – Who is it? Who is it?
Victoria’s Husband – Sit! Tesya, step away from the window.
Tesya hides in the doorway of the adjacent room and listens attentively. Victoria’s husband opens the window.
Victoria’s Husband – What do you want?
Beggar – If you could be so kind…
Victoria’s Husband – Kind to what?
Beggar – For God’s sake, my children haven’t eaten for several days… This knocking on the window is out of desperation… Please help…
Victoria’s Husband (after a pause) – Times are tough for everyone now! I’m sorry, it’s very cold! *Closes the window.* There are all sorts of people around here!
The thin and fragile silhouette of the Beggar is caught by the blizzard and carried away in an unknown direction.
Tesya – Dad, what if he perishes?
Victoria’s Husband – Remember, Tesya, today you helped him, tomorrow he’ll bring someone else. Hope is not about this place! There’s no poverty in our kingdom… He’s definitely a fraud… *Looks out the window and barely articulates, breaking the words into syllables.* Def-in-ite-ly a fraud!
Tesya covers her face with her hands and starts crying.
Victoria’s Husband (very composed) – Once, in a similar situation, my father did the same, only I was walking through the forest at night… Seven hours. Growing up is not easy! It’s time to realize that!
Victoria’s Husband goes to the kitchen.
Victoria’s Husband – Most likely, he’s a fraud…
Versachka – Everything will be fine with him! Everything will be fine with him!
Victoria enters, covered in snow.
